Wiping device for wiping surfaces to be cleaned

ABSTRACT

The present invention relates to a wiping device for wiping surfaces that are to be cleaned, especially floor surfaces. Parts of the wiping device according to the invention are on the one hand a wiping element holder, and on the other hand the removable wiping element that is to be fixed to the wiping element holder.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation-in-part of Ser. No. 10/487,605, filedFeb. 23, 2004, which is a national case of PCT/EP02/09371, which wasfiled on Aug. 22, 2003 and claims priority to DE 101 42 084.6 which wasfiled on Aug. 30, 2001.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a wiping device for wiping surfacesthat are to be cleaned, especially floor surfaces. Parts of the wipingdevice according to the invention are on the one hand a wiping elementholder, and on the other hand the removable wiping element that is to befixed to the wiping element holder.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Wiping devices of the type in question have been known for decades, andare colloquially referred to as floor wiping elements (DE 29 14 230 A1).Such a wiping device has in the first place a wiping element holder onwhich a handle socket is mounted, generally via a cardan joint, so thatit can swivel in all directions, and in which a more or less long handlecan be inserted. The wiping element holder itself is designed as agenerally longitudinally extending rectangular plate or as acorrespondingly longitudinally extending rectangular wire frame,optionally with an attachment plate (DE 29 14 230 A1; from the knownprior art). The term “longitudinally extending rectangular” alsoincludes in this connection shapes that in plain view deviate slightlyfrom an exact rectangular shape, in particular a trapezoidal shape.

In addition to wiping element holders with a fixed holder or with afixed wire frame, there have also been known for decades (DE 29 14 230A1) wiping element holders with a plate or a wire frame that can foldapproximately in the middle, and provided with corresponding actuationmeans.

A wiping element consisting of textile or textile-like material andadapted to the wiping element holder, generally referred to as a flatwiping element, is secured to the latter. This fixing can of course bereleased since the wiping element has to be squeezed out and/or washedfrom time to time.

For purposes of fixing to the wiping element holder, the wiping elementaccording to the prior art has in each case on the side facing thewiping element holder and in the vicinity of the narrow sides a fixingelement in the form of a securing pocket stitched on three sides. In thecase of wiping element holders with a fixed plate or wire frame theinsert pockets consist of elastically stretchable material so that theycan be sufficiently stretched when pulled over the relevant end of thewiping element holder. In some cases one of the insert pockets is alsoslit over a more or less long section so as to facilitate the attachmentof the wiping element to the wiping element holder.

The wiping element can be attached more easily to the wiping elementholder in the case of wiping element holders having a foldable plate orwire frame ((DE 29 14 230 A1). In the folded, i.e. shortened state, thewiping element holder fits between the two insert pockets. By pressingon the folded wiping element holder the latter is brought into theinclined position, whereupon the ends slide into the insert pockets. Thewiping element holder is now locked in the extended position and thewiping device can then be used as intended. With such quick-changedevices the insert pockets are as a general rule not made of anelastically stretchable material. Often the insert pockets are made ofthe same or a similar material as the basic fabric of the wiping elementitself.

The flat wiping elements widely used in practice with insert pocketsstitched on three sides are complicated to manufacture and requireexpensive production equipment. A common complaint in practice is thatthe insert pockets become full of water when the wiping elements arerinsed out and the wiping element therefore cannot be adequately dried.Finally, the insert pockets are not part of the cleaning-active mass ofthe wiping element, although they account for between 7% and 12% of thetotal weight of the wiping element. Accordingly, 7% to 12% of thematerial costs of a commercially available flat wiping element withinsert pockets are wasted as regards the cleaning function. The samealso applies to the costs incurred in washing the wiping elements.

In general it has to be remembered that such wiping elements are widelyemployed for multifarious purposes in professional use, where businessoperating margins are low and thus any cost savings are welcomed.

Attempts have already been made to obviate the aforedescribed knowndisadvantages of wiping elements with insert pockets sewn at the ends,by providing the lower side of the wiping element holder and the upperside of the wiping element with Velcro-type locking elements (DE 22 29824 A1). These wiping devices have not been widely adopted in practicesince, quite apart from the fact that they are complicated and costly toproduce, above all the removal of the wiping element necessitates aprocedure that can only be performed manually, namely the detachment ofthe wiping element from the wiping element holder. In contrast to this,particularly when using quick-change holders with a foldable plate orfoldable wire frame, in the case of wiping elements provided with insertpockets at the end the dirty wiping element can be removed without thewiping element actually having to be handled.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The object of the present invention is to develop and modify the knownwiping device described in detail in the introduction so that it can beused even more cost-effectively and expeditiously. A further object isalso to develop a wiping element holder per se and a correspondinglyassociated wiping element.

The problem outlined above is solved by the wiping device according tothe invention. According to the invention the end insert pocketsstitched on three sides are dispensed with. Instead, only narrow fixingstrips are used, underneath which the plate or the wire frame of thewiping element holder can be inserted. The fixing of the wiping elementon the wiping element holder is thereby accomplished just as effectivelyas when using insert pockets. The insert pockets of the wiping deviceknown from the prior art have a further function however, namely toeffect a coincident alignment of the wiping element holder and thewiping element. This is now performed by the narrow fixing strips inconjunction with the position fixing members provided on the wipingelement holder. This prevents an undesirable and thus excessivelongitudinal displacement of the wiping element relative to the wipingelement holder.

It is obvious that, given the flexibility of the wiping element andfixing strips due to the material from which they are made, there can beno absolutely exact positional fixing of the wiping element on thewiping element holder. A slight displacement of the wiping elementrelative to the wiping element holder is however also perfectlyacceptable in practice. Of importance nevertheless is the recognition,on which the present invention is based, that the narrow fixing stripsin conjunction with the position fixing members are sufficient to ensurea fixing of the wiping element to the wiping element holder that issatisfactory in practice.

At the same time quite substantial advantages are also achieved. Theproduction costs of the flat wiping element are significantly reduced bydispensing with the insert pockets stitched on three sides. The omissionof the insert pockets achieves a savings of ca. 7% to 12% of the overallweight of the wiping element. The washing costs are also correspondinglyreduced. The amount of material used is also reduced by a correspondingamount. The drainage of water from the wiping element after the latterhas been rinsed is more effective since the narrow fixing strips do nottrap any water.

Until now, flat wiping elements had an active cleaning bottom side andthe top side provided with the fastening elements. Thus half of thewiping element had no cleaning function. Yet the whole wiping elementhad to be washed when it became soiled on the active cleaning side. Theteaching described here realizes a wiping device with a wiping elementhaving two active cleaning sides, since the wiping element as a whole isreversible, in particular thanks to the convenient arrangement of thefixing strips. With this, one not only has two active cleaning sides,whereas previously only a single active cleaning side was available in aflat wiping element, but one can also design the two active cleaningsides differently and thus achieve different cleaning effects.

The invention is described in more detail hereinafter with the aid ofdrawings simply illustrating some embodiments. Modifications anddevelopments of the invention that are also of general interest aredescribed in conjunction with the description of the embodiments.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

FIG. 1 shows a preferred embodiment of a wiping element holder of awiping device according to the invention.

FIG. 2 shows a preferred embodiment of a wiping element of a wipingdevice according to the invention.

FIG. 3 shows a wiping device consisting of a wiping element holder andwiping element according to FIGS. 1 and 2.

FIG. 4 shows in the component parts a, b, c, d various alternative waysof securing the wiping element to the wiping element holder.

FIG. 5 shows an especially preferred embodiment of a wiping elementaccording to the invention seen from one of the active cleaning sides.

FIG. 6 shows the wiping element from FIG. 5 seen from the other activecleaning side.

FIG. 7 shows a schematic illustration for elucidation of the reversalprocedure of the wiping element according to FIGS. 5 and 6.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides a wiping device, colloquially also knownas a floor wiping element for wiping surfaces to be cleaned, inparticular floor surfaces. Such wiping devices may however also be usedfor other surfaces that have to be cleaned.

FIG. 1 shows a plate-type wiping element holder 1 made of plasticsmaterial. In addition to plate-type wiping element holders there arealso frame-type wiping element holders, i.e. wiping element holderswhose attachment surface is formed in the manner of a wire frame (DE 2014 230 A1). The invention provides wiping devices with all types ofwiping element holders 1.

The wiping element holder 1 illustrated in FIG. 1 has a substantiallylongitudinally extending rectangular shape typical of such wipingelement holders. Corresponding wiping element holders that appearslightly trapezoidal in plain view may also be employed. Shapesdeviating somewhat from the above are also covered by the expression“substantially longitudinally extending rectangular shape.” On its upperside the wiping element holder has a handle socket 2 that is connectedvia a cardan joint 3 to the wiping element holder 1 as such. A handle(not shown in FIG. 1) that can be inserted or screwed into the handlesocket 2 can thus guide the wiping element holder in almost any desiredrelative position over the surface to be cleaned.

FIG. 2 shows a wiping element 4 to be secured to the wiping elementholder 1 and that matches the latter. This wiping element 4 generallyconsists of textile or textile-like material, often of a synthetic fiberor synthetic fiber mixed fabric with fringes arranged on the cleaningsurface and on the edge in order to optimize the cleaning effect.Nowadays suitable microfiber products are frequently used for thispurpose.

As FIGS. 2 and 3 in conjunction show, in each case the wiping element 4has on the upper side facing the wiping element holder 1 adjacent to thenarrow sides, a fixing element for securing the wiping element 4 to thewiping element holder 1. This fixing element runs crosswise over thewiping element holder 1 when the wiping element 4 is secured in position(FIG. 3). In the illustrated embodiment the fixing elements are adjacentto the narrow sides of the wiping element 4 of a longitudinally extendedrectangular shape. Corresponding arrangements that are suitable for thefixing of the wiping element 4 to the wiping element holder 1 are alsoavailable for other shapes of the wiping element 4.

It is essential that the fixing elements on the upper side of the wipingelement 4 are designed as narrow fixing strips 5 attached only at theirends to the wiping element 4, and that position fixing members 7 areprovided on the wiping element holder 1 at those places where the fixingstrips 5 are to run when the wiping element 4 is secured in position.The position fixing arrangements 7 ensure that no undesired longitudinaldisplacement of the wiping element 4 relative to the wiping elementholder 1 can occur during use of the wiping device. Transversedisplacements are of course already prevented by the fixing strips 5. Inthis respect the function of the fixing strips 5 is the same as thefunction of the insert pockets stitched on three sides that are employedin the prior art. The fixing strips 5 cannot however fulfill thefunction of the insert pockets as regards a longitudinal displacement.The position fixing arrangements 7 on the wiping element holder 1 nowfulfill this function instead, various embodiments of which will bedescribed in more detail hereinafter.

In principle there are no restrictions as regards the material of thefixing strips 5. These strips may for example consist of plastics,leather, and possibly even of corrosion-resistant metal. For productionreasons however it is recommended that the fixing strips 5 consist oftextile or textile-like material. In particular it is recommended thatthe fixing strips 5 consist of the same material as the basic fabric ofthe wiping element 4. In all respects there are considerable advantagesin making the fixing strips 5 of textile or textile-like material. Thesame is true as regards the production and the washing of the wipingelement 4.

Normally the textile or textile-like material of both the wiping element4 and the fixing strips 5 is a synthetic fiber material or a syntheticfiber/natural fiber mixture.

Particularly when the fixing strips 5 are made of textile ortextile-like material, it is convenient to attach the fixing strips 5 bystitching them to the wiping element 4. This is also the method ofapplication shown in the illustrated embodiment. The seams 6 with whichthe fixing strips 5 are attached to the wiping element 4 can be seen.

There are also many other possible ways of securing the fixing strips 5to the wiping element 4. For example, it would be possible to fix thefixing strips 5 to the wiping element 4 by means of tacks or rivets.When using plastic material it would also be possible to weld togetherthe materials of the fixing strips 5 and wiping element 4. By and largehowever it has been found in practice that stitching the fixing strips 5to the wiping element 4 is particularly convenient, in the same way asthe insert pockets known from the prior art are stitched at their edges.

The stitching of the fixing strips 5 to the wiping element 4 can beperformed without any problems since in this case only two flat surfaceshave to be stitched to one another. Also, the stitching does not have totake place in the edge region of the wiping element 4, and can thereforebe carried out independently and in a substantially more permanentmanner.

If the wiping element holder 1 is of a suitably matching shape, thefixing strips 5 may be elastically non-stretchable in their longitudinaldirection. In this case it is then particularly convenient if the fixingstrips 5 consist of a similar material to that of the base fabric of thewiping element 4. In the case of wiping element holders 1 with a fixedplate or fixed wire frame it is recommended however that the fixingstrips 5 be designed so as to be elastically stretchable in theirlongitudinal direction, since only then can it be ensured that thewiping element 4 is actually securely fixed to the wiping element holder1.

In practice it has been found that if the fixing strips 5 are suitablyshaped, in particular have the appropriate thickness, then they directlystand apart from the upper side of the wiping element 4 and thus alreadyby themselves form an insert opening. The insertion of the ends of thewiping element holder 1 is thus very simple, and the fixing strips 5 donot first of all have to be lifted from the wiping element 4. A manualintervention is also unnecessary, which has to be regarded as asignificant advantage. This is particularly the case with a wipingelement holder 1 having a foldable plate or foldable wire frame, whichshould of course in any case be particularly easy to handle.

Nothing has been said up to now as regards the arrangement of theposition fixing arrangements 7 on the wiping element holder 1. FIGS. 1and 3 show the wiping element holder 1, in this case provided with afoldable plate that can fold about a covered folding axis 8, the foldingoperation being executed by a conventional actuating lever 9, in thiscase a plate-type lever. The illustrated embodiment of a wiping elementholder 1 is in this case designed as a magnetic holder, i.e. theinclined position of the wiping element holder 1 is ensured by themagnetic force of a covered installed permanent magnet. By operating theactuating lever 9 this connection is released and the wiping elementholder 1 can be folded up. To install the wiping element 4 the wipingelement holder 1 simply has to be pressed downwards, whereupon the endsthread underneath the fixing strip 5 and the two parts of the wipingelement holder 1 where they join together snap tight under the action ofthe magnet.

In principle it could be envisaged that in order to form the positionfixing arrangements 7 the wiping element holder 1 could be designed soas to taper trapezoidally at the ends associated with the fixing strips5 and the intended position of the fixing strips 5 could lie in thistrapezoidally-tapering region. This variant is illustrateddiagrammatically in FIG. 4 a. Slightly trapezoidally-tapering wipingelement holders have already been used in the prior art. The illustratedtrapezoidal shape served however only to facilitate the operation ofthreading into the insert pockets stitched on three sides, while thepositional fixing was achieved by the transverse straps arranged at theend and coming to rest on the front end of the insert pockets. From nowon the sides of the trapezoidally-tapering region are used to ensure thelongitudinal arrangement of the wiping element 4 on the wiping elementholder 1, since the intended position of the fixing strips 5 is situatedthere.

A preferred embodiment that is particularly convenient in practice isillustrated in FIGS. 1 and 3. In this case it is envisaged that theposition fixing arrangements 7 of the wiping element holder 1 are edgerecesses in the wiping element holder 1 starting from the endsassociated with the fixing strips 5, in which the fixing strips 5 lie inthe intended position. This arrangement with, as it were, angle-shapededge recesses at the ends of the wiping element holder 1 has severalparticular advantages. On the one hand the fixing strips 5 may beshorter than the normal width of the wiping element holder 1. The seams6 may accordingly lie further inwardly on the surface of the wipingelement 4. Furthermore the wiping element holder 1 is substantiallylighter due to the edge recesses 7 starting from the ends, and areduction in weight-of at least ca. 14 g was achieved in a structurallyimplemented embodiment. Correspondingly less raw material has to beused, resulting in correspondingly lower costs. Also, in professionaluse cleaning staff comment positively on the somewhat lower weight ofthe wiping element holder 1.

A further alternative is shown in FIG. 4 b. This alternative ischaracterized by the fact that the position fixing elements 7 of thewiping element holder 1 are edge recesses arranged on the longitudinalsides of the wiping element holder 1 running transversely to the fixingstrips 5, in which recesses the fixing strips 5 lie in the desiredposition. In this case a permanent fixing of the wiping element 4 on thewiping element holder 1 can of course be achieved probably only inconjunction with fixing strips 5 that are at least somewhat elasticallystretchable in their longitudinal direction.

In all cases it may also be envisaged that the edge recesses 7 areconnected by a recess running on the upper side of the wiping elementholder 1.

Instead of using recesses, it can also be envisaged that the positionfixing arrangements 7 of the wiping element holder 1 are edgeprojections arranged on the longitudinal sides of the wiping elementholder 1 running transverse to the fixing strips 5, which projectionsprevent the fixing strips 5 slipping further onto the wiping elementholder 1. This variant is illustrated in FIG. 4 c. FIG. 4 d shows acorresponding variant with a projection 7 that runs on the upper side ofthe wiping element holder 1 and thereby prevents the end of the wipingelement holder 1 slipping through underneath the fixing strips 5. Thevarious structural variants may of course also be combined with oneanother in a suitably matching manner.

FIGS. 5, 6 and 7 show a further, very interesting variant of a wipingdevice of the type in question. This variant is distinguished throughthe fact that the wiping element 4 is reversible. The reversibility ofthe wiping element 4 is facilitated by the fact that the fixing strips 5are attached to the edges of the wiping element 4 such that, in bothpositions of the wiping element 4, the fixing strips have essentiallythe same relative position to the wiping element 4. FIG. 5 shows oneposition of the wiping element 4 with one active cleaning layer 4 a atthe top, while FIG. 6 shows the other position of the wiping element 4with the other active cleaning layer 4 b at the top.

The fixing strips 5, especially when they are elastic, need not beattached precisely to the edge, but the reversibility is greatly aidedwhen such an attachment is realized.

FIG. 7 shows, as indicated partially in FIG. 6 with a dot-and-dashcircular line, the reversing process of the wiping element 4, not drawntrue to scale but, rather, in schematic fashion for purposes ofillustration.

The wiping element 4 can, irrespective of its reversibility, be producedfrom a single layer forming the front and back sides. Especiallyadvantageous, however, is the implementation illustrated here, in whichthe wiping element 4 consists of two active cleaning layers 4 a and 4 bthat are firmly joined together, especially stitched together. This isshown in FIGS. 5, 6 and 7.

Two active cleaning layers 4 a and 4 b have the advantage that, ifnecessary, they can be differently constructed, in other words havedifferent structures and/or surfaces and/or materials or materialcompositions. One can thereby achieve different cleaning effects, forexample, one layer 4 b producing a coarse cleaning using rough materialand the other layer 4 a producing a fine cleaning using especially softmaterial. Such a configuration is of great interest precisely forhygienically demanding applications.

In addition to the flexibility in the design of the wiping element 4achieved in the case of reversibility, in particular when two layer 4 aand 4 b are used, the usability of both sides for cleaning purposes isalso of considerable advantage. The cleaning performance is practicallydoubled relative to the subsequently required washing process.

The construction of the wiping element 4 from two active cleaning layers4 a and 4 b that are firmly joined together, especially stitchedtogether, has the further advantage that the fixing strips 5 can also beattached without problem in the same process. They are simply anchoredat the end sides between the layers 4 a and 4 b, in particular stitchedin between the latter.

As has already been explained in the general part of the description,the invention also provides a wiping element holder 1 per se that isused in a wiping device according to the invention, as well as a wipingelement 4 per se that is characterized by the fixing strips 5.

Instead of a plate-type or frame-type wiping element holder 1, one canalso make use of a wiping element-holder 1 that has a hollow chamber forreceiving a larger volume of cleaning fluid or is formed by such ahollow chamber. In this connection, reference may be made to DE 44 34496 A1, the disclosure contents of which are made with reference to thedisclosure contents of the present patent application. Such a hollowchamber, which forms the wiping element holder 1 or is a part of thewiping element holder 1, is connected via at least one outlet in thewiping element holder to the wiping element 4 fastened to the wipingelement holder 1, so that cleaning fluid can flow continuously.

The use of position fixing arrangements 7 according to the teaching ofthe invention is likewise recommended for a wiping element 1 having ahollow chamber, which preferably displays a substantially circular crosssection. For this purpose, one can for example drop the diameter of thehollow chamber at the ends to a smaller dimension, so that the positionfixing arrangements 7 are formed by edge recesses and connectingrecesses running on the upper side. Another variant is the combinationof additionally placed position fixing arrangements 7 in the form ofedge projections or projections on the upper side.

In both cases, when application is made of a hollow chamber as thewiping element holder 1 or as part of the wiping element holder 1 theuse of elastically stretchable fixing strips is to this extentrecommended.

1. A wiping apparatus for wiping surfaces comprising: a wiping elementholder having a substantially longitudinal extending rectangular shapewherein the rectangular shape tapers at both ends.
 2. The apparatus ofclaim 1, wherein the wiping element holder is a plate-type wipingelement holder.
 3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the wiping elementholder is a frame-type element holder.
 4. The apparatus of claim 1,wherein the holder is designed to be trapezoidally tapering.
 5. Theapparatus of claim 1, wherein the apparatus is used to clean floors. 6.The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising an actuating lever; and amagnetic holder wherein the wiping element holder can be folded byoperating the actuating lever thereby causing the magnet holder torelease and the wiping element holder to fold.
 7. The apparatus of claim1, further comprising a hollow chamber for receiving cleaning fluid. 8.The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising: a wiping device secured tothe wiping element holder.
 9. A wiping apparatus for wiping surfacescomprising: a wiping element holder having a substantially longitudinalextending rectangular shape; and a wiping element secured to the wipingelement holder, the wiping element comprising a plurality of fixingelements for securing the wiping element to the wiping element holder,said fixing elements comprising a fixing strip attached at each end tothe wiping element such that the fixing elements run crosswise over thewiping element holder when the wiping element is secured to the wipingelement holder.
 10. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the wiping elementis selected from the group consisting of a textile material, atextile-like material, and a mixture thereof.
 11. The apparatus of claim10, wherein the wiping element is selected from the group consisting ofnatural fiber, synthetic fiber, and a mixture thereof.
 12. The apparatusof claim 9, wherein the wiping element is microfiber.
 13. The apparatusof claim 9, wherein the fixing strips are selected from the groupconsisting of textile material, textile-like material, and mixturesthereof,
 14. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the fixing strips areselected from the group consisting of natural fiber, synthetic fiber,and mixtures thereof.
 15. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the fixingstrips are microfiber.
 16. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the wipingelement and the fixing strips are the same material.
 17. The apparatusof claim 9, wherein the fixing strips are attached to the wiping deviceby stitching.
 18. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the fixing stripsare attached to the wiping device by welding.
 19. The apparatus of claim9, wherein the fixing strips are substantially not elasticallystretchable.
 20. The apparatus of claim 9, further comprising aplurality of position fixing arrangements.
 21. The apparatus of claim20, wherein the position fixing arrangements are tapering ends of thewiping element holder.
 22. The apparatus of claim 20, wherein theposition fixing arrangements are edge recesses in the wiping elementholder.
 23. The apparatus of claim 20, wherein the position fixingarrangements are edge projections on the wiping element holder.
 24. Theapparatus of claim 9, wherein the wiping element is reversible.
 25. Theapparatus of claim 24, wherein the wiping element further comprises twoactive cleaning layers joined together.
 26. The apparatus of claim 25,wherein the two active cleaning layers are stitched together.
 27. Theapparatus of claim 25, wherein the two active cleaning layers havedifferent structures.
 28. The apparatus of claim 25, wherein the twoactive cleaning layers have different surfaces.
 29. The apparatus ofclaim 25, wherein the two active cleaning layers are differentmaterials.
 30. The apparatus of claim 25, wherein the wiping apparatusis used to clean floors.
 31. A wiping apparatus for wiping floorscomprising: (1) a plastic wiping element holder having a substantiallyrectangular shape, wherein the rectangular shape tapers at the end andthe wiping element is collapsible; (2) a microfiber wiping elementcomprising microfiber fixing strips stitched to the wiping elementwherein the wiping element is secured to the wiping element holder bythe fixing strips, such that the fixing strips run crosswise across thewiping element holder.